The Rossi Crime Family: The Complete Five Book Mafia Series

by J. L. Beck

  “Legs up,” he orders, and I put them up one at a time. His eyes move straight to between my legs as soon as they are up, and I’m completely exposed to him. I close my eyes for a moment, fighting back tears. I’ve never felt so dirty in my life. I feel like I could bathe in bleach after this and still not be clean.

  He closes the restraints around my ankles first, slowly making his way upward. Every time his fingers make contact with my skin, I cringe as if his touch is tainting me.

  “The things I could do to you…”

  I try to think of Ivan, of my sister, of what the sun feels like against my skin. Anything but this sick fuck in front of me. My wrists are restrained next, and my pulse pounds loudly in my ears.

  “I was kind of hoping you would fight me, but I guess this is nice, too.” He moves right between my legs and touches my inner thigh, slowly dragging his finger closer to my center. I swallow back a scream when he is only a few inches away from the part that only Ivan ever touched when the door swings open and we both look up.

  A gray-haired man with glasses walks in, carrying a medical bag. “Number Four in examining room two is ready to go. She isn’t a virgin.” His voice is flat like he couldn’t care less about what’s going to happen to any of us.

  Luca sighs loudly, almost as if he's annoyed. “Maybe next time, sugar.”

  I watch him walk out the door and into the hall before my eyes move to the man who claims to be a doctor. I just can’t bring myself to see him as such. Doctors are supposed to help people, heal them, and make them feel better. This man is doing none of those things. He pulls on a pair of latex gloves, not even looking at me.

  “Do you know what they do to the girls after you examine them?”

  He pulls a blood pressure cuff out of his bag and wraps it around my arm, ignoring me completely.

  “How can you call yourself a doctor when you do this to women?” I'm angry, livid. He doesn't care, how can he not care?

  He takes my blood pressure before checking my pulse, keeping his face completely void of any kind of emotion. His brown eyes are cold and lifeless as he looks over my body.

  His fingers move to the side of my neck, feeling for my lymph nodes before moving down to push on my abdomen.

  I watch him scribble something down on a piece of paper before he pulls out a flashlight. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to shut off my brain and be somewhere else at least mentally as he uses the flashlight to examine my vagina. When I feel him probe my entrance with his finger, I try and close my legs, and the restraints on my ankles bite into my flesh.

  He doesn’t go in far and it doesn't hurt but it’s anything but comfortable. I feel violated by this man who calls himself a doctor.

  Once done, he cleans my arm with some sterile wipes. His movements are slow but accurate. He doesn't hesitate or miss a beat, which isn't surprising, since I’m sure he does this all the time. The strong smell of disinfectant tickles my nostrils and my stomach starts doing somersaults when I feel the prick of a needle enter my arm. I look down and watch the vial fill with my blood.

  “What are you going to do with that?” I gesture toward the vial.

  “If you’re smart, you’ll stop asking questions and keep your mouth shut.” He takes the vial from my arm and removes the needle before packing up everything and walking out of the room.

  As if Luca was waiting outside the door, he walks in seconds after the doctor walks out. He undoes the restraints, not even looking at me before he jerks me off the table by my arm.

  I barely get a chance to grab my clothing from the floor before he's pulling me down the hall and back toward my cell. He pushes me inside and slams the door shut behind me. When I hear the lock click, I exhale a breath I wasn’t even aware I was holding and just stand there for a moment, thankful that this is over.

  I get a new pair of panties from the bathroom and pull them on before I slip back into Ivan’s sweatpants and shirt. Taking my normal seat in the center of the mattress, I wrap my arms around myself and wait. I listen to more doors open and closing, voices, cries, and screams for a while before the hallway returns to its normal silent state.

  Unable to tell how much time has passed, I sit, waiting. I wish I had a watch. At least then I would have an idea on when it's close to dinner time.

  All I can think of is Ivan and how he made me feel last night and this morning. I close my eyes and see his face. Lifting the shirt I’m wearing to my nose, I take in his lingering scent and imagine him being here, sitting next to me.

  My daydream comes to an abrupt halt when I hear footsteps approaching. The sound of jingling keys fills the room, and then my door is being unlocked. I’m jittery with excitement. Ivan must have decided to come early. I almost jump up in glee but then the door opens and instead of happiness, I feel pure terror.

  A man I’ve never seen before walks in, and one look at the evil grin on his face and my blood turns to ice. I scoot back to the end of the mattress until my back hits the wall. I realize then that I've backed myself into a corner and there is nowhere else for me to go.

  “I was really hoping you wouldn't pass the test so I wouldn't have to pay for you. Turns out I’ll just be changing the info on the doc’s paperwork.” When I hear his voice, I know exactly who he is.

  Yulie.

  Everything inside me is telling me to run, but it wouldn't matter. It won't change what's going to happen.

  “Please... don’t do this,” I beg, even though I know a man like him is not going to listen. His eyes light up with unbridled desire when my plea meets his ears. He undoes his belt buckle and pulls his belt out with one tug.

  “My plaything broke a few days ago so I have some pent-up aggression. You are going to help me loosen up.” My chest heaves but I can’t get any air into my lungs.

  I look up at him, unable to move as I watch in horror as he swings the belt in the air. The leather lands against my face before I have a chance to move my arms to protect myself.

  Pain explodes across the left side of my face and a scream rips from my throat. I manage to bring my arms up to my face before he strikes me again, this time hitting me across my shoulder.

  I turn away from him as much as I can and the next one comes down on my back… then another and another. My skin is throbbing, and tears slip down my cold cheeks.

  He stops for a brief moment, just long enough to rip the shirt off my body. I try and move away from him but I'm in so much pain, I know I wouldn't be able to fight him.

  “Your skin looks beautiful covered in my marks.” His words drip with venom.

  As I lay in the fetal position, naked from the waist up, he continues whipping me with the belt. I lose count of how many times he’s hit me, each strike hurting more than the next. I try to hold the pain in, biting the inside of my cheek until I taste blood. Then, as if someone heard my silent prayer, Yulie stops.

  “What are you doing here?” Yulie growls, and that’s when I realize that someone else has entered the room. I twist just enough so I can look over my shoulder. Ivan is standing right behind Yulie, and he is holding the end of the belt in his hand.

  I look up to meet his eyes but what I find looking back at me is not Ivan… it’s a wild animal about to go in for the kill.

  Chapter Ten

  Ivan

  Every fiber of my body vibrates in anger. Fury like I’ve never felt before consumes me as I look at Violet’s body huddled on the mattress. Ugly welts mar her beautiful skin. I promised her I wouldn't let anyone hurt her and I failed. I failed her just like I failed my sister.

  I feel something inside me snap. All thoughts but one leave my mind. One single thought that digs its claws deep into my skin.

  Kill.

  I pull the belt from Yulie’s hand with one quick pull.

  “What the fuck, Iv—” Before he has time to turn and face me, or even finish saying anything, I have it slung around his neck. His hands grip onto the belt, trying to loosen it, but I already have it tightened. Lifting my
foot, I kick him in the lower back, and he falls to the floor with a grunt.

  Once I have him where I want him, I move on top of him. Digging my knee between his shoulder blades, I grip the belt tighter, watching as the leather digs into his flesh. I lean into him so I can watch his ugly face start to turn blue. He’s gasping for air and trying to say something, but I don’t give a fuck about his words or excuses. In my eyes, he's already dead.

  I’ve killed before, many times, but nothing ever felt this fucking satisfying. I smile, watching as his eyes bulge out of his head. I grip onto the belt, tightening it, enjoying every second of his feeble attempt to fight for his life. Power surges through my veins, a darkness filling my insides like a venomous bite.

  His movements underneath me slow until they stop altogether. With one last pull, I release him, letting his face fall to the cold concrete. I exhale, taking a staggering step backward. I feel her beautiful blue eyes on me and when I turn to look at her, they're full of fright and terror. I'm afraid that I've put those emotions there.

  “Kitten…” I call out to her like I'm trying to corral a scared animal.

  She huddles deeper inside herself, and I feel my heart shatter. This is my fault. Had I come sooner, maybe he wouldn't have had the chance to hurt her so badly. I stare at her shaking body for a long moment. I've killed for her now… I've betrayed all I've ever known for her. I knew it before, but now I know without a doubt that I will not send her to the auction. She’s mine. Mine to protect, mine to keep. I look over at Yulie’s dead body... Once it’s discovered that I killed him, I'm as good as dead.

  I need a plan, and I need one fast if I want any chance of us coming out of this alive. I glance back at the body, then scan the room, trying to figure out what to do with this scumbag. A million scenarios rattle through my mind. Oh, how I would love to burn his fucking body or hang him from the ceiling. But none of those things will work. I continue to let my mind work until I think of something that’s good and wouldn't have me leaving Violet in here the rest of the day. The thought alone is almost unbearable.

  I look at her, as she is staring at dead Yulie. I lower myself next to her on the mattress, holding up my hands to show her that I won’t hurt her. She doesn't move at all for a second but then her eyes gaze up to mine and the next moment, she is in my arms.

  Her small hands grab onto my shirt and pull me as close as she can get me. She buries her face into my chest and starts crying. Her whole body is shaking, and I want nothing more than to wrap my arms around her tightly, but I’m scared of hurting her back. I gently cradle the back of her head and let her cry for a minute. I look past her next to the mattress and spot the pill bottle tucked in between the mattress and the wall.

  “Kitten,” I whisper in her ear. “Listen, I need to hide the body.”

  When she doesn't respond, I gently nudge her shoulders. Careful not to hurt her, I push her away from me so I can take her face in between my hands. I tilt her face up so she has to look into my eyes.

  “Listen to me, Violet. I need you to trust me right now. I have a plan to get you out of here. I just need you to trust me… okay?”

  “Okay.” Her voice comes out low and raspy from crying.

  I reach behind her to grab the pill bottle. “I need you to take one of these. I need you to stay here and go to sleep for a few hours. Kitten, I swear to you when you wake up, you will be in my bed and I will be right next to you.”

  I can tell she wants to object, and I don’t blame her at all, but I can’t take her with me yet, and still, I can’t just leave her in here while she is in this state. I feel like a knife is twisting deep inside my chest. Then she nods her head slightly and takes a pill from my hand, and I just want to kiss the fuck out of her. She’s so strong; she doesn’t even see it. I hand her a water bottle off the floor and watch her take the pill. Her throat moves as she swallows it, her eyes remaining on mine.

  “I'm scared, Ivan.” Her lips tremble, and I vow from this moment on to protect her against everything bad in this world.

  “I know.” I pick up the ripped shirt and put it on her. She wraps her arms around herself and lies down on the mattress with her back facing the door. I lean over her shaking body and kiss her hair before getting up. “I’ll be back,” I whisper.

  I stick my head out the door and look down both sides of the hallway. When I don’t see or hear anything, I go back, and grab hold of Yulie’s arm. I pull him into the hallway and kick the door shut on my way out. I drag his ass all the way into the examining room down the hall. I toss his lifeless body into the corner, wishing he would wake up just so I could kill him again.

  No one should come in here anytime soon, since all the checks were done today but just in case, I lock the door behind me. I stand there for a long moment, letting myself digest everything that just happened. I squeeze my eyes shut, an image of my sister Mira dead in the road appears in my mind.

  I fucking failed her and now I’m failing Violet, too.

  I might have killed Yulie, but the marks on Violet’s body will take time to heal, reminding me of how I wasn’t there to protect her, how I lied to her. The need to punch something courses through my veins. I want to destroy, rip, tear, kill. I want to feel Yulie’s warm blood coat my hands.

  I want vengeance for Violet, something that I won’t be able to give her since I had to make the bastard’s death quick. Escaping this place should be easy but doing so with Violet and trying to remain hidden for however long is needed… that I’m not sure about. I run a hand through my hair. Is she even going to want to come with me after everything she just witnessed?

  I don’t know why I ask myself that. Of course, she is. The last place she wants to stay is here. But is she still going to want my hands on her? I’ve grown attached to her, and every single part of my body calls to her. I want her, completely, and enough to give everything up.

  Walking back to her cell, I look through the one-way mirror. She is right where I left her, and I just stand there for a moment looking at her. The only way I’ll get her out of this place is if I let her go to the auction, I’ll just need to find a way to take her before she actually walks on that stage. I start pacing up and down the hallway. There is no way in hell I’m letting her cell door out of my sight. If someone happens to come down here other than Gabe to deliver food, I will not look too suspicious just walking down the hall. Every time I walk by her cell, I peek in just to make sure she is still sleeping and every time I see her body still on the mattress, I feel a sliver of relief enter my body.

  After what seems like an eternity of pacing up and down the hall, Gabe finally comes around the corner, pushing a cart full of food trays.

  When he looks up and spots me heading toward him, he flinches.

  “Hey, boss... didn’t expect to see you down here.”

  I just give him a brief nod. I don’t have to explain myself to this guy and he knows that.

  I walk past him and around the corner where he can’t see me, but I can still hear him. I count him opening and closing six food slots. Four girls were sent out today. I know this because I gave Luca the okay to take them to Rossi and his friends.

  When he is done and I hear him walking back down the hall, toward where I am standing. I walk back around the corner as if I’d just returned to speak to him.

  “Hey, Gabe… tomorrow is my off day so I’m going to take number five upstairs to pass my time, if you know what I mean. So, don’t worry about bringing her food again until Monday.”

  “Sure thing, boss.” He scurries past me, pushing the cart in front of him, and I follow him to the elevator, pretending I’m taking the stairs back up. When the elevator doors close behind him, I turn around and head back to her cell.

  I unlock it and step inside. She isn’t moving, the pills having knocked her out good just as I had hoped they would. At least if she's knocked out, her body can heal, and she isn’t in any pain.

  I pick her up carefully, cradling her to my chest and make my
way up to my apartment. I take the stairs up all four floors. I'm less likely to see someone on the staircase than on the elevator. No one takes the stairs in this place. They’re all a bunch of lazy fucks.

  When I finally make it to my place without running into a single soul, I sigh in relief. The less people know about me taking her to my room the better. I walk inside and close the door behind me. Then I head into the bedroom and gently sit Violet on the bed, rolling her body to the side. I don’t want her lying on her back until I get to check on the marks on her back.

  Peeling the shirt off her gently, I inspect her marred skin. I clench my jaw and force my hands to steady. Her whole back is covered in long, red, and swollen streaks. Some places are turning blue from bruising and in other places, the skin has actually broken. Her arms and shoulders are also marred, and there is one angry streak that crosses her beautiful face.

  I’ve never felt this overwhelmed with guilt and fury in my life. I’m so fucking angry I want to kill everybody in this building. Everyone who ever touched her, scared her, or even looked at her. I want them all dead, every single person. I want to give her the vengeance that I know she deserves.

  Pushing my anger aside, I get up and grab my little first aid kit out of the bathroom and start cleaning her broken skin before she wakes up.

  Once I’m finished, I want nothing more than to get a whiskey from my office and drown myself in the entire bottle, but I promised her that I’d be here when she wakes up, so instead, I lay down next to her and watch her sleep.

  I have no idea how much time passes until she wakes. It might have been hours or days. I don’t know, nor do I care. All I know that I don’t think I will ever get tired of just looking at her.

  Even with her face bruised and swollen, she is still the most beautiful person I have ever laid eyes on. Her eyelids blink open slowly and for a moment, I have this fear in my chest that she is going to be scared of me… scared of my touch now that she has seen me kill, but then she smiles. It’s a tiny one and it probably hurts like hell to do it, but it’s the last thing I was expecting from her.